Fundraising Norman OK

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Fundraising ideas

Looking for clever fundraising ideas? Here's one: The Smithtown Historical Society offers a fun spin on popular casino nights. The event's co-chair offers the secrets of the party's success.

For the past five years, on the first Saturday night in March, residents of Smithtown, New York, have enjoyed a dress-up night of "gambling" at the Society's "Naughty Night Out," a Roaring Twenties-themed fundraiser.

"We came up with that idea because we wanted something a bit different than the usual Las Vegas and Monte Carlo nights," says 2006 event co-chair, Deanna Varricchio, Smithtown's receiver of taxes.

Each year, the event draws about 125 attendees and nets between $6,000 and $8,000, says Varricchio. The venue for the 2006 event was the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch, in Hauppauge.

Accent on Fun

One reason for the event's success, she says, is the contrast between the sedate nature of the Society's mission--to preserve the historical heritage of the Township and of Long Island--and the raucous, fun-filled frivolity of the evening's activities.

One of the biggest attractions was "In and Out of Jail," which involved "imprisoning" prominent members of the community in a "jail" built by a talented local contractor. (See photo above). "People could pay $5 to bail the prisoner out, or $5 to keep him or her in jail for a while longer." It's easy to figure out what most people chose to pay for, she jokes.

Gambling, of course, was the major money-maker of the evening. Classic Casino Productions, of Wantagh, which has run the event's casino operations from the beginning, provided card tables and a range of casino equipment, including a real slot machine donated by the company and auctioned off at the end of the evening.

For the $125 cost of admission, each attendee got $200 worth of play money, says Varricchio. Soon thereafter, people could buy $500 more play money for $20. And later in the evening, the same $20 bought $1,000 in play money.

"Bootleg beverages" were offered throughout the evening and the pacing of the food service was carefully planned, Varricchio notes. Guests arrived to hors d'oeuvres being passed, and platters of cheese, nuts, and fruit placed at stations around the room. At 9 p.m., a hot buffet was served. Seating was intentionally limited and tables were small. "The whole idea was to keep people gambling," she explains.

Naughty Night Out also featured a Chinese auction and a number of door prizes. "This event has become familiar to local merchants, who have been very generous in their support," she says, referring to the range of gift certificates, merchandise, and services donated to the organization--including a dinner cruise on one supporter's private yacht.

Costumes more popular each year

One trend Varricchio says she's noticed is that every year, more people arrive in full '20s regalia. "At first, the only people in costumes were those running the event," she recalls. "This year, about 75% of the women were in c...